Tigers hand over 16 SLA bodies

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in the Vanni today, 16 bodies of Sri Lankan Army (SLA) personnel killed at Olumadu yesterday, said ICRC sources in Colombo.

The ICRC is expected to hand over the bodies to the SLA in Vavuniya today.

In a communiqué issued this morning however, the Ministry of Defence of the Sri Lanka Government made no mention of the fighting at Olumadu yesterday or the handing over of the 16 bodies.

The communiqué said:

"On 24th February 1998 troops began moving Northwards from their earlier held positions. Terrorists fired mortars at the advancing troops. Troops effectively engaged suspected terrorist mortar locations with mortars and artillery."

"Kfir ground attack aircraft of the Sri Lanka Air Force successfully engaged terrorist targets in depth, Mi 24 helicopters too joined in engaging the terrorists. Operation continues."

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